Automatic hanging hook system

ABSTRACT

A loop for hanging material enclosed in a package closed by a clip is described. The loop has a retaining section, a neck section, and at least one hanging section. The hanging section of one embodiment has a plurality of apertures for engagement by a plurality of hooks. The hanging section of another embodiment has an aperture able to engage a plurality of hooks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of processed food products. Thisinvention relates specifically to a system for hanging food products insmoke rooms for processing.

Many types of food products are wrapped in packaging, which can be afilm, such as a collagen film, or netting, or both. These products areoften fully cooked before delivery to the consumer. For example, hamsare sometimes wrapped in a collagen film (and optionally enclosed innetting) before cooking. A representative apparatus for packaging foodproducts such as hams is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,477 toWinkler, Apparatus for the production of meat products. Similarprocesses are used for other whole-muscle meats, for sausages, forpoultry (including whole birds such as turkeys and poultry parts such asturkey breasts), and cheeses. Sausages are commonly formed by extrusionof a pasty filling into a tubular collagen casing, often followed bywrapping with netting. A representative apparatus for making sausages isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,041, Process for Filling TubularCasings. Similar processes are used for cheeses and for other foodproducts. Whether the packaging is a film, netting, or both, thepackaging is usually closed with a clip.

Whether sausages, hams, turkeys, or other food products, the wrapped andnetted package is usually suspended on a rack. A rack full of hanginghams, for example, is conveyed into a smoke room, where smoke isintroduced to cook the hams. Other foods products are processed by othermethods, such as steam or dry heat. Regardless of the processing system,some device is required to hang the food products on a rack. For hamsand other large-muscle or whole-muscle meat products, as noted in theWinkler patent, a loop is clipped in, using the same clip that was usedto enclose the collagen film and netting around the ham. A clipper, acommon device in the industry, gathers the collagen film and netting andapplies a clip to the gathered film and netting. Before the punch of theclipper closes the clip, a neck portion of the loop is placed on thegathered film and netting. When the punch of the clipper closes theclip, the loop is firmly attached to the ham. (A similar system is usedfor sausages.)

The loop is used to suspend the ham or other food product on a rackduring the smoking stage. The loop is usually removed prior to sale tothe ultimate consumer.

Automated processes are known in which a series of hooks on a conveyorpicks up the hams as they emerge from the wrapping apparatus. Theconveyor carries the hams to the rack, at which point the loop must betransferred from the conveyor hook to the rack hook. This process isdifficult to accomplish, especially with a loop formed of a nonrigidmaterial, as the loop must be lifted off the conveyor hook and placed onthe rack hook.

One method known in the art is to use a rigid loop of the typeillustrated in FIG. 1. The loop 20 has a neck section 22, a retainingsection 24, and a hanging section 26. Hanging section 26 defines anoval-shaped aperture 28, through which the conveyor hook and rack hookwill project to support the food product. Neck section 22 is clipped tothe food product. Retaining section 24 prevents the loop from pullingthrough the clip.

This type of loop is unsatisfactory, as the food product can wobble onthe hook projecting through oval-shaped aperture 28. Transfer of thefood product from the conveyor hook to the rack hook is also difficult,as the rack hook must be inserted through aperture 28 before theconveyor hook withdraws, or the product will drop to the ground.

Additionally, the loop 20 of the prior art is made of a rigid plasticmaterial and is manufactured in individual pieces. Accordingly, acomplicated feeding system is required for use with automated systems.

Accordingly, a need exists for a loop that can be clipped to a foodproduct for hanging from a hook, that will ease the transition from onehook, such as a conveyor hook, to a second hook, such as a rack hook. Aneed also exists for a loop that can be used in an automated nettingsystem. The present invention meets this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The loop of the present invention in a first embodiment is a semi-rigidplastic loop having a retaining section, a neck section, and at leastone hanging section for engagement by a hook. The loop is attached tomaterial, such as a ham or a sausage, by clipping across the necksection. A first hook carries the food product by engaging a hangingsection of the loop, until the second hook engages a hanging section, atwhich point the first hook can withdraw.

In a first embodiment, loop of the present invention has two hangingsections, each being an aperture for engagement by a hook. A first hookcarries the material by engaging a first aperture. A second hook engagesa second aperture.

In another embodiment, the loop of the present invention has two hangingsections, each of which is either an aperture or a notch. In a preferredembodiment, one hanging section is an aperture for engagement by a firsthook and the other hanging section is a pair of cut-out notches forengagement by a second hook. The first hook carries the material byengaging the aperture. The second hook engages the pair of cut-outnotches.

In yet another embodiment, the loop of the present invention has ahanging section comprising an elongated aperture for engagement by twohooks. The loop will hang down from a first hook, allowing a second hookto engage the same aperture below the first hook.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of theinvention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a loop as is known in the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

While the invention may be susceptible to embodiments in differentforms, there are shown in the drawings, and herein will be described indetail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles ofthe invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that asillustrated and described herein.

The loop 30 of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown inperspective view in FIG. 2 and in plan view in FIG. 3. Loop 30 ispreferably manufactured in a chain 32 of individual pieces 30 a, 30 b,30 c, etc. Perforations 34 between each loop 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, etc. arecreated in the manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 30breaks off easily from the chain 32. Accordingly, chain 32 is preferablyon a reel. The reel is mounted on an automated netter and eachindividual loop 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, etc., is snapped off the chain 32 whenit becomes the leading loop 30.

Loop 30 has a retaining section 36, a neck section 38, and a hangingsection 40. Neck section 38, connecting retaining section 36 and hangingsection 40, must have a width less than the width of the clip that willbe used to closed the package to which loop 30 will be applied.Retaining section 36 preferably has a width greater than that of necksection 38 and greater than the width of the clip that will be used, sothat a force applied to hanging section 40 will not pull loop 30 throughthe clip.

Hanging section 40 defines a lower aperture 42 and an upper aperture 44.Accordingly, when loop 30 is clipped to, for example, a ham, a conveyorassembly picks up the ham by insertion of a conveyor hook through upperaperture 44. The conveyor carries the ham to a smokehouse rack, asdescribed above, and hangs the ham on the rack by placing loop 30 in aposition so that the rack hook inserts through lower aperture 42. Theconveyor hook then withdraws without interference between the two hooks.

Aperture 44, in the preferred embodiment, has the shape of a rectangle.Lower aperture 42, in the preferred embodiment, is in the shape of arectangle with a semi-circle on the side adjacent to neck 38. Othershapes are possible.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective viewin FIG. 4 and in plan view in FIG. 5. Loop 50 is also preferablymanufactured in a chain 52 of individual pieces 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, etc.Perforations 54 between each loop 50 a, 50 b, 50 c, etc. are created inthe manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 50 breaks offeasily from the chain 52. Accordingly, chain 52 is preferably on a reel.The reel is mounted on an automated netter and each individual loop 50a, 50 b, 50 c, etc., is snapped off the chain 52 when it becomes theleading loop 50.

Loop 50 has a retaining section 56, a neck section 58, and a hangingsection 60. Neck section 58, connecting retaining section 56 and hangingsection 60, must have a width less than the width of the clip that willbe used to closed the package to which loop 50 will be applied.Retaining section 56 preferably has a width greater than that of necksection 58 and greater than the width of the clip that will be used, sothat a force applied to hanging section 60 will not pull loop 50 throughthe clip.

Hanging section 60 defines aperture 62. Aperture 62 is an elongatedpassage through hanging section 60. Aperture 62 has a major axis 64 andis oriented so that neck section 58 and retaining section 56 aregenerally collinear to axis 64. In this embodiment, when loop 50 isclipped to material such as a ham, a first hook engages aperture 62 sothat the ham hangs below the hook, leaving most of aperture 62 below thehook and easily engagable by a second hook.

Preferably, aperture 62 is generally is egg-shaped, being wider on itsend closer to neck section 58. In this preferred embodiment, aperture 62is defined by a first semi-circle on its side proximal to neck section58 and a second semi-circle on its side distal to neck section 56, withsecond semi-circle having a smaller radius than the radius of the firstsemi-circle. First semi-circle and second circle are connected bystraight line segments.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspectiveview in FIG. 6 and in plan view in FIG. 7. Loop 70 is also preferablymanufactured in a chain 72 of individual pieces 70 a, 70 b, 70 c, etc.Perforations 74 between each loop 70 a, 70 b, 70 c, etc. are created inthe manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 70 breaks offeasily from the chain 72. Accordingly, chain 72 is preferably on a reel.The reel is mounted on an automated netter and each individual loop 70a, 70 b, 70 c, etc., is snapped off the chain 72 when it becomes theleading loop 70.

Loop 70 has a retaining section 76, a neck section 78, and a hangingsection 80. Neck section 78, connecting retaining section 76 and hangingsection 80, must have a width less than the width of the clip that willbe used to closed the package to which loop 70 will be applied.Retaining section 76 preferably has a width greater than that of necksection 78 and greater than the width of the clip that will be used, sothat a force applied to hanging section 80 will not pull loop 70 throughthe clip.

Hanging section 80 defines aperture 82. Aperture 82 is an elongatedpassage through hanging section 80. Aperture 82 has a major axis 84 andis oriented so that neck section 78 and retaining section 76 aregenerally collinear to axis 84. In this embodiment, when loop 750 isclipped to material such as a ham, a first hook engages aperture 82 sothat the ham hangs below the hook, leaving most of aperture 82 below thehook and easily engagable by a second hook.

In this embodiment, aperture 82 has the shape of a door. Aperture 82 isdefined by a first semi-circle on the side proximal to neck section 78and a rectangle adjacent to the semi-circle.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspectiveview in FIG. 8 and in plan view in FIG. 9. Loop 90 is also preferablymanufactured in a chain 92 of individual pieces 90 a, 90 b, 90 c, etc.Perforations 94 between each loop 90 a, 90 b, 90 c, etc. are created inthe manufacturing process, so that each individual loop 90 breaks offeasily from the chain 92. Accordingly, chain 92 is preferably on a reel.The reel is mounted on an automated netter and each individual loop 90a, 90 b, 90 c, etc., is snapped off the chain 92 when it becomes theleading loop 70.

Loop 90 has a retaining section 96, a neck section 98, a first hangingsection 100, and a second hanging section 102. Neck section 98,connecting retaining section 96 and first hanging section 100, must havea width less than the width of the clip that will be used to closed thepackage to which loop 90 will be applied. Retaining section 96preferably has a width greater than that of neck section 98 and greaterthan the width of the clip that will be used, so that a force applied toloop 90 will not pull loop 70 through the clip.

First hanging section 100 defines aperture 104. Aperture 104 preferablyis circular in shape but another shape will suffice.

Second hanging section 102 extends from first hanging section 100.Second hanging section 102, in this embodiment, has two arms 106, 108that extend laterally in the plane of loop 90, defining two notches 110,112 between first hanging section 100 and second hanging section 102. Inthis embodiment, loop 90 is clipped to a product, such as a sausage orham, by a clip across neck section 98. A first hook engages one of thetwo hanging sections 100, 102, to carry the product. For example, a hookengages aperture 104 and carries the product to a smoke rack. Theproduct is hung in the smoke rack by engagement of second hangingsection 102 onto a hook on the smoke rack. Alternatively, the first hookcan engage second hanging section 102, by engagement of a double hook innotches 110, 112, to carry the product so the smoke rack and to hang theproduct on a hook through aperture 104 in the smoke rack.

Second hanging section 102 could alternatively form a single notch 110,which engages one of the first hook and the second hook.

Loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 are preferably formed of a material strongenough to hold up the material that has been packaged, whether thatmaterial be hams, sausages, or something else. Additionally, thematerial must be strong enough not to break under the pressure imposedby a clip, especially during the punching process of clipping. Moreover,the material must be able to withstand the atmosphere of processing,such as the heat and environment of a smoke room. A light-weightmaterial is preferred to minimize the weight on the rack. Accordingly,loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 are preferably formed of a semi-rigid plasticmaterial, preferably a thermoset plastic such as a urethane resin.

Loops 30, 50, 70, and 90, as described above, is preferably manufacturedin a chain and stored on a reel. If manufactured in a chain, loops 30,50, 70, and 90 can be used in an automated netting apparatus, such asthe one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,297, Apparatus for EnclosingMaterial in a Net. That patent describes feeding a label into theapparatus for clipping to the material. A similar feeder can be loadedwith a reel of loops which are then fed into the apparatus for clippingto the material, similar to how the labels are clipped to the material.A reel of loops can also be used with other packaging devices, such assausage makers, either automated or manually operated.

Because the loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 are stored on a reel, they arepreferably manufactured having a flat shape.

Whether loops 30, 50, 70, and 90 are manufactured singly or in a chainfor loading into a reel, they are attached to material, such as sausageor a ham, by positioning the loop so that the neck is within the jaws ofa standard clipper. When the clipper fires to place a clip around agathered section of packaging, such as collagen film or netting, toenclose the material in the packaging, the loop 30, 50, 70, and 90becomes attached to the material. A conveyor system then moves thematerial in a standard way recognizable to a person of skill in the art.

Other embodiments can be adapted from the present invention. Forexample, as illustrated, a loop with two hanging sections, such as loop30 or loop 90, has the hanging sections collinear to the neck sectionand the retaining section. In alternate embodiments, the hangingsections could be adjacent one another and not collinear. For example,first hanging section 100 and second hanging section 102 could beadjacent one another and both extending from neck section 98 of loop 90.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown anddescribed, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devisevarious modifications of the present invention without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for hanging on a hook, material that has been wrapped inpackaging that has been closed by a clip, comprising: a retainingsection having a dimension greater than a width of the clip closing thepackaging; a neck section extending from said retaining section andformed to be engaged by the clip; and a plurality of hanging sectionsextending from said neck section, each said hanging section comprisingat least one of an aperture and at least one notch for engagement by ahook; whereby said apparatus is clipped to said material.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, manufactured from a thermoset plastic.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein said thermoset plastic is urethane resin.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said hangingsections comprises a cut-out notch.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinat least one of said hanging sections comprises a pair of cut-outnotches.
 6. An apparatus for hanging on a hook, material that has beenwrapped in packaging that has been closed by a clip, comprising: aretaining section having a dimension greater than a width of the clipclosing the packaging; a neck section extending from said retainingsection and formed to be engaged by the clip; and a plurality of means,extending from said neck section, for engaging a corresponding pluralityof hooks; whereby said apparatus is clipped to said material.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6, manufactured from a thermoset plastic.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 7, wherein said thermoset plastic is urethane resin.9. An apparatus for hanging on a hook, material that has been wrapped inpackaging that has been closed by a clip, comprising: a retainingsection having a dimension greater than a width of the clip closing thepackaging; a neck section extending from said retaining section andformed to be engaged by the clip; and a hanging section extending fromsaid neck section and comprising an aperture for engagement by aplurality of hooks, said aperture being elongated along an axiscontaining said retaining section and said neck section; whereby saidapparatus is clipped to said material.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,manufactured from a thermoset plastic.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10,wherein said thermoset plastic is urethane resin.